Here’s some words of wisdom and food for thought from a mental performance coach regarding race distances. In the endurance biking realm, whether it’s marathon distance mountain biking or gravel races, a premium is often placed on the distance of the race, the promoters and racers alike seem to embrace or get sucked into this “bigger is better” mentality. As someone who often chooses the race distance that’s just under the big 100+ mile feature, I’ve heard all the talk, over-explaining and justifications for racers not to be lining up for the ‘premier’ distance of a given event. But I really think we’re missing the boat. Why is it considered heroic for an amateur rider, training six to twelve hours a week to take on the same course as a professional who is training two, three or even four times as many hours (and happens to have a far superior physiology)?
One of the athletes in the endurance realm that has inspired me the most over the years, is a fellow Montanan, Rose Grant. She’s a five time USA Marathon MTB National Champion and a 2x Leadville 100 winner. She’s gritty, tough, courageous and full of grace. She’s also open and honest about her experience as a professional mountain biker and in a recent sit down for a podcast interview, she spoke to me about her experience at Unbound (the most famous gravel race in the world), expressing how the 200 mile race (the main event) was a one and done for her, essentially expressing why she not only didn’t enjoy being in the saddle that long, but sharing why she thinks it’s unhealthy for our bodies.
This is a race where the pro women are turning themselves inside out for 12 + hours in the saddle. For many age-groupers, it’s a 20 hour endeavor. Why you might wonder would people choose this race distance? There are shorter distances at Unbound, but the ‘real’ deal is considered to be the 200 miler. In an arms race to see who can be the biggest, baddest and hardest (keep in mind that many consider the shorter, 70 mile Crusher in the Tushar and the 100 mile Leadville 100 to be the ‘toughest’ races, largely because of the elevation gain and racing at elevation), it feels like gravel races are pushing deeper into darker places–mentally and physically for many riders.
So, here’s my pitch to riders and racers: let’s stop minimizing our experience and effort. If you read my Last Best Ride race recap you’ll know that I had a blast. The Last Best Ride was full gas, no brakes for 3 hours and 8 minutes. I got into the pointy end of the race and charged hard from start to finish—truly emptying the tank.
I originally signed up for the ‘Long’ course, which is just under 100 miles and opted for the ‘short’ course, or just under 50 miler, as did Christian, my ride mate from Columbia. It’s funny how event and race organizers will refer to this as a ‘downgrade,’ but I can assure you my experience was anything but.
First and foremost, the people. Emily from Reno. Kai from Chicago. Eric from Seattle. Isaiah from Virginia. Anthony from DC. All of these beautiful people I raced beside and connected with, I would have never met in the 100 miler. And then there’s the pace. Some people choose 5k’s, 10ks, over marathons. Physiologically, 3-4 hour races are my sweet spot. I love going hard and giving it all I’ve got, in the words of Meg Fischer “riding with gusto,” versus metering the effort and trying to survive.
When Amanda asked me what my race strategy was, it was simple. “Try and rip the legs off people on the climbs.” And that’s what we did. And it was SO much fun. We could have never ridden that pace for 100 miles—it would be a totally didn’t effort. We are not less than for choosing a shorter distance. Bigger isn’t always better. It’s all about the experience and we’ve got to look ourselves in the mirror and really check in with our wise mind and true self (not our comparative or ego parts) to see where we’d most thrive in our experience.
I’m a competitive guy—just ask anyone of the people in the chase group that I was trying to burry on the climbs—but comparisons are the stealer of joy. Let others inspire you (as Emily inspired me when she put in a final dig, pulling away on the end of the last climb after climbing together for 2.5 hours), but don’t let others (especially a race distance), make you feel less than, if you’re showing up and emptying the tank.
I experienced the same psychology a week later at the Breck Epic. The main event is a six-day stage race, but unlike most other big endurance mountain biking stage races, the Breck Epic team also offers 3-day options. For me, the three day was the only option as I had a wedding officiating gig on the back end of the six day race (and as much as I love racing my bike, it doesn’t pay any bills, quite the contrary, it costs to race), but I can honestly say, after three of the hardest days of mountain biking I’ve ever experienced, I couldn’t have been more fulfilled or felt like I achieved anything more rewarding. (check out my Breck Epic race recap) And yet, I heard it many times from my cohorts and competitors, “Oh, you’re just doing the three day,” or “yeah, I’m just doing the three day,” as if we’re less than, for choosing a number of days that fits our schedule, family obligations, training load and perhaps our physiology–not to mention our psychology.
I say we act from a place of courage and vulnerability and stop minimizing the significance of our effort. Stop saying, “I’m just doing the short course.” Words matter. Intention matters. Own your effort and experience. Fifty miles is a long fucking time to race a bike. It may not be 100 miles, but a high schooler doesn’t say, “I just run the mile,” or “I just run the 800.” There are multiple distances for a reason and it’s high time that riders, racers and event organizers stop placing a premium on the bigger is better, go big or go home toxicity that limit and minimize the power of our potential and the experience.
Whether it’s your physiology, your preference or the amount of time you have to train, don’t be afraid to choose a race distance that best suits you (and your family) in the here and now. And by God, let’s celebrate the courage it takes to simply show up, let alone show out, instead of qualifying why we aren’t going bigger, because longer isn’t always better.
Dig deep, lean in and stay true.
WNbL,